Lady Xu

Lady Xu (died in or after May 229) was a concubine of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Life Lady Xu was from Fuchun County , Wu Commandery, around present day Fuyang, Zhejiang. She was the daughter of Xu Kun (徐琨), a cousin of Sun Quan through his father Sun Jian's younger sister (Lady Sun), who was killed in action fighting against Huang Zu. Lady Xu was initially married to Lu Shang (陸尚), also of Fuchun County. When Lu Shang died around 200, Lady Xu was taken in by Sun Quan as a concubine, on which occasion he told his first wife Lady Xie to lower herself in status to accommodate Lady Xu's arrival; Lady Xie refused and fell into disfavour, dying at a relatively early age. As part of her duties as concubine, Lady Xu was assigned as adoptive mother to Sun Deng, Quan's son by a mother of lowly status, who would later acknowledge her as his mother. When Sun Quan later relocated in 212,

Family and relatives

Lady Xu's grandfather Xu Zhen (徐真) was a close acquaintance of Sun Jian, who gave Zhen his younger sister in marriage, leading to the birth of Xu Kun, Lady Xu's father. Xu Kun in his youth served in provincial and commandery offices, although he left his post to serve Sun Jian in battle as his Lieutenant General. He continued to serve Sun Ce during this time in battles against Fan Neng (樊能) and Yu Mi (于糜) at Hengjiang (橫江) and against Zhang Ying (張英) at Danglikou (當利口) in 195.

In 197, Sun Ce instead appointed Xu Kun as General of the Household Who Supervises the Army. He later assisted in defeating Li Shu (李術) at Lujiang in 200, for which he was created Marquis of Guangde (廣德侯) and appointed General Who Pacifies Barbarians (平虜將軍). He was later struck by an arrow and killed around 203, roughly the time of the Battle of Xiakou,

Lady Xu's elder brother Xu Jiao (徐矯) inherited his father's marquisate, and campaigned against the Black Mountain Shanyue, for which he was made lieutenant general. Xu Jiao died childless before his sister. Their younger brother Xu Zuo (徐祚) inherited the title, and for his martial merits he was appointed as Supervisor of Wuhu (蕪湖督) and General Who Pacifies Wei (平魏將軍).